The leader of the Welsh Conservatives has resigned just days after he made controversial comments regarding Airbus.

Andrew RT Davies AM announced he was quitting “with deep regret” this morning following a meeting of all group members.

The South Wales West AM, had recently been criticised for playing down statements by Airbus UK bosses that jobs in Broughton, Flintshire, could be moved elsewhere in Europe if the UK suffered a ‘hard Brexit’ from the European Union.

He said the company was just “making threats”.

Aberconwy Conservative MP Guto Bebb then criticised Mr Davies, disputing his title as leader of Welsh Conservatives and called for him to “retract his comments” which he said were “inflammatory”.

Mr Davies also told yesterday how he “bitterly regretted” that “a more positive decision was not made” over plans to build a tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay, which he had lobbied strongly for.

The UK Government formally turned down the £1.3bn scheme as a pilot project - which would have paved the way for much larger lagoons in Cardiff, Newport and Colwyn Bay - saying it did not offer value for money.

The Welsh Government had already put in £20m towards the planning and proposal stages of the scheme.

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A statement from the married father-of-four said he had tendered his resignation in a letter to the Group Chairman, Janet Finch-Saunders, who is also Aberconwy AM, following a meeting of all group members this morning.

He said: “It has been a huge privilege to serve in this position since 2011, after securing the mandate of the party in a ballot of the membership.

“It is my firm belief that any Leader of the Assembly Group should secure the same mandate in a full ballot of the grassroots, and I hope that my successor will emerge in that manner.

“I would like to thank the Group for their support throughout my leadership, and in particular to express my gratitude to the many dedicated and professional staff I have had the privilege to work with – and for.”

Andrew RT Davies on a previous visit to North Wales. He has stepped down as leader of the Welsh Conservatives (Image: Robert Parry-Jones)

He said he looked forward to supporting “whoever emerges from the contest to replace me” adding that he would continue to place all of his efforts into advancing the Welsh Conservative cause both in Wales and Westminster.

“As a party we would achieve nothing without the hard work and dedication of our grassroots and I would like to thank them all for the support they have given me in Wales. Nothing could make me prouder than to have enjoyed their backing throughout this journey”, he added.

Mr Davies, who is a partner in the family farming business based in St Hilary near Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan, is a life governor of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society and a member of the NFU.

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He said: “I would like to thank the Prime Minister for her support and I wish her the very best in delivering for the country and the Conservative Party moving forward.

“And finally, thanks to my family, particularly my wife Julia who has supported me each and every step of the way.”

Reacting to the announcement, First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “Despite our obvious political differences, I always found Andrew to be good company, and he never broke the confidences I shared with him as Leader of the Opposition. That is the sign of a decent and honest politician.

"Andrew has made his mark in Welsh politics and his jovial and larger than life personality has always been a breath of fresh air during Assembly proceedings. I wish him well in the future.”

Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones (Image: PA)

Prime Minister Theresa May has sent her “thanks and best wishes” to Mr Davies.

In a statement, she said: “I would like to send my thanks and best wishes to Andrew as he steps down after seven years as Leader of the Conservatives in the Welsh Assembly.

“Under Andrew’s leadership, the Welsh Conservatives have provided a strong opposition to Labour in Cardiff Bay and a strong voice for the people of Wales, both at home and in Westminster.

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“It was a pleasure to join Andrew and the rest of the team at the Welsh Conservative conference last month. I know he will continue to be a passionate champion for the people of South Wales Central in the Assembly, as he has been for more than a decade – and will continue to speak up for the best interests of Wales as we leave the European Union and forge a new role for the whole United Kingdom on the world stage.”

It now means there are leadership battles in Welsh Labour, Ukip and the Welsh Conservatives.